van hoevenbergh



No. 6|9,.5|9. Patented Feb. 14,1899.

H. VAN HOEV'ENBEREH. y ELECTRIC BBANDING DEVICE.

` (Appn unam Ang 2 1994) (llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

n. 619,549. Pmhted Feb. 14, |999. n. VAN HoEvENBEnGH.

ELECTRIC BBNDING DEVICE.

(Application lad Aug. 2, 1894.)

2 Sheets--Sheot 2.

"lo Model.)

99.3 .am 090g??? MXP/7M? UNITED STATES IPATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY VAN IIOEVENBERGII, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO IIENRIETTA LONSDALE FELLOYVES, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC BRANDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,519, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed August 2, 1894. Serial No. 519,255. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VAN IloEvEN- Enno-H, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Branding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric branding devices.

The object of the invention is to permit the burning into or upon the surface or through the substance of a fabric a group of characters, which may be varied according to the ultimate design which is desired.

The invention is especially designed to permit the recording of a series of numbers upon a check, draft, or other obligation to pay money, so that the amount for which the paper is drawn will be rendered unalterable.

In another application for Letters Patent filed by me and Birney Fellowes contemporaneously herewith we have described an apparatus having similar objects in view, in which an organization is described comprising a series of disks independently adjustable. The present invention is designed to simplify the apparatus by permitting the oloject to be obtained by a single disk.

In carrying out my invention I provide a pivoted frame carrying a rotatable disk, upon the periphery of which are arranged a series of characters formed of a thin strip of metal,

.one end of which is embedded in the disk and the other end of which projects therefrom, and provide means .by which the apparatus will be shifted laterally after each character is burned or imprinted, so that a succession of characters may berecorded side by side upon the fabric.

The several features of novelty of the invention will be more particularly hereinafter described and will be definitely indicated in the claims appended to this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, partially in elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking to the left of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view. Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 5 5, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the disk upon which the branding characters are mounted.

1 represents a base-plate provided with a slot at 2, by which the line of branding may be accurately determined. The base-plate is provided with vertical uprights orlugs 3 3, in which is journaled a curved arm 4, provided with a projection 5 near its pivotal point cooperating with a leaf-spring 6, mounted on the base-plate, by which the arm 4 is normally maintained in a raised position, so as to carry the branding-disk 7 above the plane of the base-plate. The arm 4 is provided with a shoulder 8 and a projecting pin 9, upon which is journaled a handle l0, carrying the disk '7. A set-screw mounted at the outer end of the handle or any other suitable device may be provided by which the parts are kept in working relation. Upon the periphery of the disk 7 is mounted a series of branding characters 11, embedded in the periphery of the disk. The diskwispreferably made of an insulating fireproof composition, such as articial stone,which may be molded to the desired shape and in which the branding characters 11 may be fixed during the molding operation. Each branding character is formed of a thin strip ofL German silver bent to the shape required to form the character and provided at its terminals with current-leading conductors 12 13. One of these conductors, as 12, terminates on the inner face of vthe disk 7 in a stud or pin 14, (see Fig. 6,) the several studs 14 corresponding to the several characters being arranged concentrically with the axis of the disk and cooperating with a contactspring 15, mounted on the shoulder 8, and insulated therefrom and electrically connected with a binding-post 16, by which connection may be made with an electric circuit. The conductors 13, leading to the other eX- tremity of the several branding characters, are connected with a metallic ring 17, mounted in the face of the disk, against which bears a conducting-pin pressed inwardly by a spring 18, mounted upon the arm 4 and electrically connect-ed with an insulated contact 24, coperating with a contact-spring 25,

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secured to binding-post 19. XVhen the handle is depressed, contact is made at 24 25. Current will then iiow through the character whose stud engages the spring l5.

The base-plate is provided with a series of rollers 2O 20 20, mounted in uprights on its upper face, the rollers projecting slightly below the bottom of the base-plate. One of the rollers, as 20h, which is mounted centrally with respect to the sides of the base-plate and the rollers 2O 20 is provided with a milled edge, so as to permit it to firmly engage the surface of the fabric and carries upon its shaft or axis a ratchet-wheel 2l, cooperating with a spring-pressed pawl 22, so arranged that when the handle l0 has been depressed the pawl will engage a new tooth of the ratchetwheel 2l and when the handle is lifted away by reaction of spring 6 the pawl will shift the ratchet-wheel 2l circumferentially and roll the apparatus laterally a distance sufficient to present to the brandingdisk when again depressed a clean brandingsurfa-ce. Thus when the disk is repeatedly depressed a series of characters will be branded side by side upon the fabric.

Upon the front face of the disk 7 is printed, embossed, or otherwise indicated a series of characters, as shown in Fig. 3, corresponding to the branding characters mounted upon the periphery of the disk, but placed on the opposite side of the axis, and an indicator 23 is placed in such position that when any character is brought in line with it, looking at the face of the disk, that character will be in branding positionthat is to say, facing the surface upon which the base-plate l rests. Upon the side of the base-plate opposite the handle 10 is mounted a thumb-piece 26, by which the apparatus may be steadied during its manipulation.

The operation of the apparatus will now be understood. The instrument is placed upon the surface to be branded and the thumbpiece 26 grasped by one hand, while the handle 10 is turned until the character desiredsay the dollar-mark-is brought in line with the indicator 3. The branding character corresponding to the dollar-mark is then in line to engage the surface of the fabric when the handle lO is depressed. The handle lO is then depressed, thereby closing the circuit. The resistance offered by the thin sheet metal forming the character brings it under action of the current to a branding temperature,

which may be regulated, as desired, to produce a scorching heat or a heat which will burn through the substance of the fabric. The handle is then permitted to rise under the pressure of spring G and the circuit is broken. Simultaneously the pawl shifts the roller 20h, pushing the apparatus laterally a distance sufficient to bring it in position to brand another character. The handle lO is then turned to bring the next desired character in line with the indicator, when it may be branded. The operation may be repeated as often as desired until the required series of characters have been burned into the fabric.

It will of course be understood that the apparatus is not limited to branding a series of letters or numbers, but may be employed with a series of characters having any desired configuration, and may be employed for stenciling, canceling, pinkin g, or other uses wherein a design is required to be recorded upon the surface of a combustible or fusible material or fabric.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An electric branding device provided with a rotatable disk carrying a series of circularly-arran ged branding characters, a su pporting-frame, means for holding the characters normally out of engagement with the surface upon which the frame rests, a guideroller mounted on the frame and bearing upon the contact-surface, and means for turning the roller axially so as to shift the apparatus when the handle is operated, whereby a repeated operation of the handle will burn upon the fabric a series of characters side by side.

2. An electric branding device provided with a rotatable disk carrying a series of branding characters, said disk being mounted upon a spring-controlled pivoted arm, a pawl attached to the arm, and a guide-roller controlled by said pawl, said roller projecting slightly below the bottom of the base of the device, whereby the device is shifted after each act of branding.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of July, A. D. lSQ-l.

HENRY VAN IIOEVENBERGH.

Witnesses:

G. G. WHITE, H. A. FISHER.

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